wise

be wise after the event understand and assess an event or situation only after its implications have become obvious.

☞ The French version of this expression can be traced back to the late 15th century: the chronicler Philippe de Commynes used the phrase saiges après le coup in his Mémoires, remarking of it 'comme l'on dit des Bretons' (as the Bretons say).

crack wise: seecrack.

put someone wise give someone important information. informal

1950Graham GreeneThe Third Man He was a year older and knew the ropes. He put me wise to a lot of things.

a wise man of Gotham a foolish person. dated

☞ Gotham is a village in Nottinghamshire which is associated with the folk story The Wise Men of Gotham, in which the inhabitants of the village demonstrate their cunning by feigning stupidity. Gotham is now a nickname for New York City, used originally by Washington Irvine but later linked particularly with the Batman stories.

a word to the wise: seeword.